Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > General Efficiency Discussion
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 12-21-2007, 10:39 AM   #1 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 65.39 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,973 Times in 3,609 Posts
Trouble-shooter's top question in '07? How to handle high fuel prices.

You probably have an automotive columnist like this in your favourite newspaper: someone who takes questions from readers - usually technical issues - and offers advice in return.

I thought the year-end column from expert for the Ottawa Citizen was particularly interesting. He did a wrap-up of the most common gripes/questions, and guess what was the top reader gripe of 2007...

---

Quote:
How should I cope with high gasoline prices?

There's a reason why the $100 U.S. barrel of crude oil means so much in economic circles. It will quickly bring $100 fuel tank fill-ups for more of us than just pickup and highway tractor drivers.

To keep your transportation budget balanced next year, consider:
  • downsizing the family fleet,
  • carpooling one or two days a week,
  • using public transit when possible,
  • combining errands
  • and slowing down to the speed limit.
Source: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/...f-b0fbda64fe6b
---

I like that 2 of the 3 suggestions are driving tips, but I have to wonder just how many people would actually save money by downsizing their vehicles.

It almost always costs a significant amount of money to trade - and to recoup that expense through fuel savings the difference in consumption between the vehicles needs to be substantial.

__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 12-21-2007, 10:55 AM   #2 (permalink)
Lurking footless halls
 
Silveredwings's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: northeast
Posts: 249

Dark Horse - '16 Ford Mustang GT convertible Premium

Gutless Beauty - '19 Toyota Corolla SE
Thanks: 3
Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Quote:
How should I cope with high gasoline prices?
I don't know ... maybe ... just MAYBE ... try to stop buying so MUCH of it.
__________________
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. - Clarke's Third Law
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-21-2007, 11:01 AM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 65.39 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,973 Times in 3,609 Posts
^ Seems obvious doesn't it?

But I've talked to a few people who believe that there is *nothing* they can do besides buying a different car. They don't link behaviour to fuel consumption (and I don't only mean driving behaviour).
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-05-2011, 11:40 PM   #4 (permalink)
MP$
 
diesel_john's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 595
Thanks: 5
Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts
Send a message via MSN to diesel_john
Fast Fwd 2011

i consolidate trips and use less when prices are high.
Less joy riding.
Use the most efficient vehicle for the job.
Shift up and throttle back.
Check brakes for drag.
And all the ecomodder stuff, of course.
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2011, 12:05 AM   #5 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
Minneapolis Star Tribune's automotive "expert" used to point everyone to big SUVs at every opportunity (you wouldn't believe how many pointy-headed idiots asked him what they should get junior for a first car). I wonder how he feels about that these days...?
__________________


  Reply With Quote
Old 03-06-2011, 01:07 PM   #6 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
vtec-e's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ireland
Posts: 507

De Yaris - '04 toyota yaris T2
90 day: 69.55 mpg (US)
Thanks: 111
Thanked 32 Times in 22 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by diesel_john View Post
Shift up and throttle back.
I like that! It's kinda catchy!
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-07-2011, 10:41 AM   #7 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 65.39 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,973 Times in 3,609 Posts
The way things are going with oil prices, I assume the top question that writer was asked in 2007 is going to be the same this year.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2011, 01:37 PM   #8 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: ontario
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Gas prices

I am just trying to budget my gas prices according to the market price and my weekly budget.

Judging from recent news articles though, it seems as if the gas is most likely to keep going up - esp in April and May, but luckily the high Canadian dollar is already restraining gas price hikes.

Canadian Tire gas locations seem to be cheap. They are also having a contest where you can win 1 of 3 $50,000 cash prizes and other great prizes.

(Just visit participating Canadian Tire stores and get a Game Card, and then you can enter as many times as you like, even online. It's called the 50K giveaway).

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com